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Miami building collapse: I was eighteen inches away from destruction

Almost 100 people have been confirmed dead after a residential block partially collapsed in Surfside, Florida, on 24 June. Steve Rosenthal lived in the building and was asleep there on the night of the collapse. He says he heard a loud noise, and dust started falling from the ceiling. He survived after being rescued by firemen but those in the neighbouring flats did not.

"I was asleep, when I heard the loudest thunderclap I've ever heard in my life, times ten. Five seconds later, the bed started to shake, the bedroom started to rock and roll and dust started falling from the ceiling. The destruction stopped 18 inches (46 centimetres) from my front door."

Photo: Search and rescue operations continue after partial building collapse in Surfside, Florida Credit: Reuters

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